PW's Year of Beer: Samuel Adams Merry Mischief Gingerbread Stout

We love beer. That's why we're devoting an entire year to discovering (and drinking) cold ones from near and far. Know of a beer worth shouting out? Send us a note at tips@philadelphiaweekly.com.

Somewhere along the line, Samuel Adams became the brewery a loud minority of beer geeks loved to bash: Criticism is certainly not from lack of experimentation and creativity, though, as this beer from their Small Batch series displays. At its core this is a big imperial stout—roast chocolate, cocoa, and hints of bitter coffee—but it’s thrown for a loop with a healthy dose of rich gingerbread spices—lots of them. Cinnamon, cloves, roast chestnuts, nutmeg and, naturally, ginger make this beer a sweet delight begging to be enjoyed during this holiday season. Try it on draft right now at Grace Tavern, Kite & Key and The Industry.